Diabetes and Female Sexual Dysfunction: Does Discrimination Persist Here?
The effects of diabetes on female sexual function are not fully understood (or often enquired about!). Therefore the opportunity to make a proper diagnosis, improve function or carry out further research in this area is all too frequently lost. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus can have detrimental effects on female sexual function (FSD).
Published reports, predominantly from questionnaire based studies of varying quality and size (with or without control groups) from countries of differing ethnic, socioeconomic and religious mix confirm FSD is about twice as common in diabetic women, probably differing in the two types of diabetes although age and menopausal status can be confounders. Lessened desire in subjects with type 1, with difficulties in lubrication and orgasm, with increased pain are most common. The underlying pathophysiology is not fully understood. Possible contributors include vascular insufficiency, neurological dysfunction, endothelial damage and depression.
